Guide to Helpful Programs & Services

Medicaid

Medicaid offers health care coverage for children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, people 65 and older, and some adults caring for children. It helps with bills for doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and drugs ordered by a doctor (prescriptions). Children who get Medicaid will also be in the Texas Health Steps program.

Texas Health Steps

Texas Health Steps is a health-care program for children, teens, and young adults ages 20 and younger who have Medicaid. It offers medical and dental checkups and many other health-care services.

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

CHIP is for children ages 18 and younger. It is an Insurance program for families who earn too much money to get Medicaid, but cannot pay for private insurance.

CHIP Perinatal Coverage

The CHIP perinatal coverage offers prenatal care to pregnant women who cannot get Medicaid and do not have other health coverage. Benefits may include up to 20 prenatal visits; drugs ordered by a doctor; costs of giving birth; 2 doctor visits for the mom after the baby is born; and regular checkups, vaccines and drugs ordered by a doctor for the baby.

Newborn Screening

All babies born in Texas must be screened for 29 medical disorders. Two tests are done using drops of blood from the baby’s heel. Tests are done 1 to 2 days after birth and again at 7 to 14 days after birth. Early detection and treatment can prevent serious health problems.

Child Support Enforcement Services

The Office of the Attorney General helps families establish a child’s legal father, set child support, collect child support payments, find absent parents, and offers services to help parents work together to meet their children’s physical and emotional needs.

• https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps

SNAP helps families buy food. SNAP benefits are given through the Lone Star Card. This is a plastic card that is used like a debit card.

Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)

ECI helps children birth to 3 years of age with disabilities and delays in growth or learning. ECI services help children reach their full potential.

Family Planning Services

Most family planning clinics offer pregnancy testing and counseling, birth control methods and counseling, tests for breast and cervical cancers and HIV testing and counseling. Ask your provider if confidential visits are available.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF helps families with children ages 18 and younger pay for things like food, clothing, and housing. TANF benefits are given through the Lone Star Card. This is a plastic card that is used like a debit card.

Head Start and Early Head Start

These programs promote healthy development in preschool children from birth to age 5. Priorities include education, family literacy, health, and childcare.